Cranbourne trainer Gavin Bedggood has been longing for the opportunity to try Oscar’s Fortune over a slightly longer trip.
The opportunity will become reality on Saturday when Oscar’s Fortune runs in the Thoroughbred Club Of Australia Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield.
To date, all of Oscar’s Fortune’s 16 starts, which has seen him win on five occasions, all in Perth, have been restricted to 1200m and below.
The former Dion Luciani-trained galloper has been in Bedggood’s care at Cranbourne for his last four appearances, three of which have been at Listed level, while the other was in The Meteorite at Cranbourne.
“All the data we get off him is that he wants further and to ride him, that’s what he feels like too,” Bedggood said.
“He’s untried past the 1200 (metres). At the 1400 metres, he’s got good natural speed, so I think he’ll rock along.
“He’s been carrying 60 kilos plus, so after Logan Bates’ claim, he’ll come in with 57-½ (kg), so he looks well-weighted in a race like that, I would think.”
Oscar’s Fortune has had two runs this campaign.
After finishing ninth in the Bob Hoysted Handicap (1000m) at Flemington on March 29, Oscar’s Fortune went to Mornington where he finished sixth in the Hareeba Stakes (1200m).
In preparation for Saturday’s outing at Caulfield, Oscar’s Fortune took out a 1000m jump-out at Cranbourne on Monday.
“He had a jump-out the reverse way on Monday and he’ll run on Saturday in the benchmark 100 and if he was able to win on Saturday, I would look to take him up to Queensland,” Bedggood said.
“He was OK in the Hareeba, but it’s a line in the sand run for him, I suppose.
“Going to Queensland will be dependent on how he goes on Saturday.”
Oscar’s Fortune came up with barrier two when acceptances were announced on Wednesday which sees a capacity field of 16 plus one emergency.
